Foldable ambulance.



Patented Feb. 1G. 191:3

Hoz ne S. KRNA.

FOLDABLE MBULANCE.

AYPLIGATION FILED JULY 3,1914.

Patented Feb. 16, 19 1 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@New SN i@ We ww w E Si KRNA.

FOLDABLE mmm-XMB.

APPMCATYGH Y l operation of S'JEEPHEN KRNA, OF BINGHAMTON, NEW YORK.

FOLDABLE AMBULANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

Application led July 3, 1914. Serial No. 848,793.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that l, STEPHEN KRNA,a citizen of the United States, and residing at Binghamton, in the county of Broome and State of NewvYork, have invented Vcertain new and useful Improvements in Foldable Ambulances, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in foldable ambulance.

l The primary object of this invention lis to provide a wheeled ambulance for carrying a number of sick or injured persons at one time and being so constructed that the wheels and running gear as well as the ambulance body are foldable to a knocked-down position. r

A further object is to provide a wheeled ambulance, the wheels and running gear of which( may be folded and unfolded by the a single lever.

A still further object is to provide an ambulance body having the sides thereof inwardly foldable to flat positions and having a lever-operated -foldable running gear and traction wheels, which wheels are positioned inwardly beneath the ambulance body when the device is in its folded or knocked-down position.

Vith these general objects in view` and' others that will. appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and wherein like numerals 'of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views Figure k1 is a side elevation of the device with one of the wheels removed therefrom. Fig. 2 is a topi-'plan view thereof with a portion of the body broken away. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the device in its' folded position. Fig. 4: is a detail. view partially in section of a corner of the ambulance body,- with the sides thereof positioned for use. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of vone of the end gates of the ambulance body, and, Fig, 6V is a perspective view of the complete frame-work x of the -ambulance with the wheels and body removed therefrom.

',jecting Referring more in detail to the drawings it will be noted that the invention broadly consists in a rectangular frame-work 10 preferably constructed of metal and adapted ,to support a foldable ambulance body 'having the bottom 11 thereof secured to said frame and also provided with two voppositely-positioned traction wheels 12 and by means of which the ambulance is moved about.

The ambulance body consists of the said bottom having sides 13 secured, thereto by hinges 14 and adapted to fold inwardly, flatly engaging the upper surface of the bottom as illustrated in Fig. 3, while the end gates 15 are pivoted upon rods 16 secured for rotation within transverse grooves 17 in the upper surface of the bottom 11 and at the `opposite ends thereof. The gates 15 are provided with hooks 18 adapted for reception within eyes 19- carried by the sides 13 when the ambulance bodyvis assembled for use as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 while in folded relations, the end gates 15 are inwardly positioned, flatly engaging the'upper surface of the bottom 11 and lying beneath. the inwardly-folded sides 13.

A U-shaped support20 is pivoted as at 21 at opposite points within the rectangular frame 10 and one end of said support is provided with an operating handle' 22, whereby the support is moved upon the` pivots 21. The other end of the support-20 is provided with an extension 23 oppositely-positioned and parallel to the handle 22, and has the link 24 pivotcd to the free end thereof and provided with a longitudinal slot l25 slidably-mounted upon the pin 26ca-rried by the frame 10. By this construction, it will be seen that the forward pivotal movement of the support 20 is limited by this link and pin connection.

The support 20 is provided with perpendicularly-projecting lugs 27 to which are pivoted the opposite arms 28 of a tongue or drawing handle 29 while pivoted legs 30 are carried by the members 28 and adapted to be positioned vertically upon the ground, and thereby maintain the frame 10 in a horizontal position and with the forward end .of said frame resting uponsaid members '28.

The frame 10 v'is provided with spaced proears 31 eXteriorly o f its opposite sides and toV each pair of ears' is pivoted a. rectangular frame 32 adapted to be posicapableof pivotal movement Ainwardly beneath the said frame.v Housings 22 are carried by the frame`s`32 while blocks 34 are secure/d therein by means of suitable holdfast devices, such as' the slciews35 which extend-through the perforaticns 316 of said housings. lThe blocks 34 are; 'provided with outwardly-extending axles 37 secured thereto and upon these axles, the said traction wheels 12 are journaled for revolution.. A

Theil-ames 32 areeach provided with Yinwardly 'projecting tapered arms 38 which upon` a forwardv movement of the lever handle` 22 toward the handle 29 engage the sides of the support 20 withthe said arms, and-thereby draw the frames .32 with the wheels. 13 inwardly and beneath the ambulance body as illustrated in Fig. 3. A rearward and upward'vmovement .of the handle 22 when the device is folded, releases the engagement between the frame 20 and the arms 38, thus allowing the side frames 32 to assume their vertical positions while the corner portions. of the support 20 also slidably engage the angularlypositioned braces 39 and tend to force the said frames 32 in position perpendicular to the-frame 10, it being noted that the frames 32 are provided with inwardly-projecting stop hooks 4() for the reception ofthe opposite sides of the support 20, and thus maintaining the parallel sides of said support perpendicular to the sides of the. frame 10. It will thus be seen that the' stop fingers 40 coperate with .the link 24 and pin-26 to limit the pivotal movement of the support 20,while1the forward impulse imparted to the handle 29 tends to maintain the said support vertically and in its operative position, and with the traction wheels 12 operatively positioned upon the ground and beneath the ambulance body.

It is thought that the complete operation of the device will be apparent from the present detailed description in that with the elements positioned as illustrated in Fig. 1, the end gates and sides of the body are readily folded inwardly upon each other while a forward movement of the lever handle 22 forces rearwardly 'the tongue or drawing device of the ambulance, and in a folded position beneath the body and with the frames 32 and the'traction wheels also inwardly folded therebeneath as illustrated in Fig. 3. It will be also evident that a substantial reversal of these movements reposition the ambulance inits operative formas illustrated in Fig.y 1, and in which position a number'of sick, injured, or dead persons may be placed in the ambulance to be conveyed thereby as desired. l While I have herein shown the preferred embodiment of the invention, I- do not wish to confine myself to the exact details of con-v struction shown, as various forms, modifications and arrangement of the parts as shown may be had without departing fromthe spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What I claim as new is 1. An ambulance comprising a rectangular frame, a foldable body carried by said frame, oppositely positioned wheel carrying means pivoted exteriorly to said frame, a U-shaped support pivoted within said frame and having a pro]ecting operating handle, said means provided with inwardly-projecting tapered arms adapted for engagement by said su port upon a movement of said handle in tiie folding operation.

2. vAn ambulance' comprising a rectangular frame, a foldable body carried by said frame, oppositely positioned wheel carrying means pivoted eXteriorly to said frame, a U-shaped support pivoted within said frame and having a projecting operating handle, said means provided with inwardlyprojecting `tapered arms adapted for engagement by said support upon a movement of-said handle ,in the folding operation, a forwardly-projecting tongue pivoted to said support, A downwardly-extending legs pivoted to said tongue, and means for limiting the unfolding pivotal movement of said support and wheel-carrying means.

3. A device of the class described comprising'an ambulance body, a rectangular frame secured therebeneath and projecting at op- 100 posite sides thereof, a U-shaped support pivoted within saidv frame and having upward extensions between the sides of said frame and the outer sides of said body, one of said extensions adapted as an operating 105 handle for said frame, a limiting link pivoted to the free end of the other extension and provided with a longitudinal slot, a lug carried by the frame and engaging said slot, a tongue pivoted to said support and 110 forwardly extending beneath said frame, and wheeled-carrying means pivoted to said frameand adapted for inwardly folding therebeneath upon the forward movement of said operating handle.

4. A` device of the class described comprising an 'ambulance body, a rectangular frame secured therebeneath and projecting at'opposite sides thereof, a U-shaped support pivoted within said frame4 and having 120 upward extensions between the sides of said frame andv the outer sides of said b ody, one ofsaid extensions adapted as an operating handle for said frame, a limiting link pivoted to the free end of the other extension 125 and provided with a longitudinal slot, a lug carried bythe frame and engaging said slot, a -tongue Vpivoted to said support and forwardly extending beneath said frame, wheeled-carrying l means eXteriorly pivoted 139 to the opposite sides of said frame, inwardlyment by said support during the unfolding projecting arms, and stop hooks carried by operation. 10 said means, said arms adapted for contact In testimony whereof I aHiX luy-signature by said support during folding operation in presence of two witnesses.

5 and said hooks adapted for receiving said STEPHEN KRNA. support when the device is operatively un- Witnesses:

folded, and angularly-positioned bars car- S. MACK SMITH,

ried bv said means and adapted for engage- JAMES HALz. 

